>"To all Ukrainian people: don't be scarred of those Chechens [brought by Russians] they're jackals and represents nothing. They're simply bearded people and we gonna shave them!"
DAY OF THE SHAVE INCOMING
>Lord Miles caught the last Polish train to Kiev.
>18,000 assault rifles distributed to citizens in Kyiv to defend against Russian invasion - Ukrainian defense minister
>Russia will not be participating in Eurovision Song Contest 2022 - EBU
>UK Defence Ministry: “Russian armoured vehicles have opened a new route of advancement towards Kyiv having failed to capture Chernihiv.”
>More from UK Defence Ministry: “The bulk of Russian forces advancing on Kyiv remain more than 50km from the centre of the city. There are reports of sporadic clashes in the northern suburbs of Kyiv, which we continue to monitor.”
>Russian President Putin calls on Ukrainian army to overthrow leadership in Kyiv in televised address - AFP
>Russia foreign ministry spokeswoman says there will be 'detrimental consequences' if Sweden and Finland try to join NATO
>Germany is open to cut Russia off from the SWIFT system: German economy minister
>Russian Grand Prix cancelled - F1
>The Polish Border Guard just announced that nearly 40.000 Ukrainians crossed into Poland on February 24th while almost 10.000 people entered Ukraine from Poland.
>#Estonia has just decided to additionally support #Ukraine with #Javelin anti-tank missile systems, medical equipment, personal protective gear and MRE food rations. Our assistance will be delivered to #Ukraine ASAP.
>2 more merchant ships hit by Russian attacks in Black Sea. Japanese bulk carrier MV Namura Queen hit by a rocket at anchor off Yuzhne. Moldovan chemical tanker MV Millennial Spirit hit and set on fire 12 miles to the south
>In a video conference call last night Ukraine President Zelensky told EU leaders: "This might be the last time you see me alive", two sources briefed on the call told me
>Russia to "partly restrict" access to Facebook - Roskomnadzor
>Special forces are currently evacuating the president of the German Federal Intelligence Service (BND) from Ukraine.
>EU to freeze personal assets of Putin and Lavrov (n-tv)
>European Union to sanction 70% of the Russian banking market, announces visa restrictions and technology curbs for semiconductor, energy, and aerospace sectors.
Phew, think that's all the major headlines. Lot of movement overnight.
Personal opinion is that while the Russians have reached north Kiev, I'm willing to believe the Brits and say they're not in the city center yet, they've been really resilient in repelling the northern fork of the invasion. Donbas front is still stable. Crimea though is where they've been forced to retreat back to the Dniper, Russians have gained control of a crossing or two across but again, bogged down by fighting.